Form-locking device



Dec. 29, 1925 1,567,210

H. A. TRESTER FORM LOCKING DEVI CE Filed May Zl 1925 3 She ets-She et 1 Dec. 29, 1925 1,567,210

H. A. TRESTER FORM LOCKING DEVICE Filed May 21 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dee. 29, 1925- 1,567,210

H. A. TRESTER FORM LOCKING DEVI CE Filed May 21 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

v UNITED sr rEs HERAULT A. TRESTER, OF MILWAUKEE,

WISCONSIN, ASSIGIQ'OR IO METAL FORMS CORPORATION, OF IIIILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION.

' FORM-LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed May 21, 1925.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HERAULT A. TREs'rnR, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Form- Locking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a fastening device for connecting the various units of a sectional wall form, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby adjacent units may be fastened together and tie rods engaged for holding spaced forms the desired distance apart, said distance depending upon the thickness of the wall to be constructed between the forms.

. Further objects of the invention are to provide a fastening device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be easily and quickly manipulated, and which will securely engage a tie rod and cooperate effectively therewith to prevent bulging or spreading of the forms when plastic concrete is poured between the same.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a device of this character which may be permanently mounted upon the form units so that they are always in position for use, and in which the engagement of the device with the tie rod not only prevents spreading or bulging of the form but also prevents the fastening device from being accidentally manipulated or moved to release the connection between adjacent form units.

While several preferred forms and embodiments of the invention are shown and described in detail in this application for Serial No. 31,949.

through one of the form units, being taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of.the clamping device shown by Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a rear view thereof.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of still another modification of the clamping device.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detail view showing a further modification in which the pivot portion of the clamping device has a cam formation and is brought into a forcible engagement with the spacing rod when the clamping device is moved into operative position.

Figure 10 is a detail View showing a further modification.

Figure 11 is another detail view showing a still different modification. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

For illustrative purposes the fastening or locking device of the invention is shown as used in connection with standard wall form units. These units are rectangular in shape and similar in size, so that they are interchangeable with each other, and the units are assembled in superposed rows to provide a wall form of any desired size. Each of the form units includes a plate 1 of sheet metal or like material which has angle iron strips riveted or otherwise secured to the sides and top and bottom in such a manner as to reinforce and stiffen the unit and provide rearwardly projecting marginal flanges 3. When a series of these wall form units are assembled the flanges 3 of adjacent units abut against each other and are ordinarily fastened together to hold the form units in place. This is a conventional form of wall form unit and no claim to novelty is based thereon.

The fastening device comprises an arm a which is pivotally mounted upon a rivet or pivot pin 5, and has a forked or bifurcated head 6 which is adapted to straddle the abutting flanges of a pair of form units. A l1andle 7 projects rearwardly from the arm 4. and provides a means for swinging the arm about the pivot pin 5 to move the bifurcated head 6 into and out of operative position. Vhen the handle 7 is swung downwardly the bifurcated head 6 is moved outwardly away from the flanges 3, while when the handle is swung upwardly the bifurcated head is moved into operative position. The arm 4L may be pivotally mounted upon the inner face of the marginal flange 3 of one of the form units, and, as shown by Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the arm 4 is received betwen the flange 3 and an outstanding bracket 8 which is spaced from the flange and is rigid with the form unit. The pivot pin 5 extends between the flange 3 and the bracket 8 and a substantial mounting is thereby provided for the clamping member. when two of the form units are placed side by side with the side flanges 3 thereof in an abutting relation, the handle 7 of the clamping device can be swung upwardly and the bifurcated head 6 caused tostraddle the abutting flanges 3 to hold the same securely together, as indicated by Figure 3.

lVhen constructing a wall two sets of the form units are assembled in a spaced relation, the thickness of the wall which is to be formed'being determined by the space be tween the two sets of form units. Tie memhere are ordinarily provided for holding the spaced forms the proper distance apart and preventing them from bulging or spreading when the plastic material is poured or placed in position between the forms. The head 6 of the present clamping device is formed with laterally projecting ears 9 which have openings 10 therein of a suitable size toreceive the projecting ends of tie rods 11. The form units are provided with suitable openings 12 to receive the'tie rods 11 and these openings are so arranged as to be in registry with the openings 10 of the clamping device when the latter is moved into operative position. The tie rods 11 extend across the space betwen the wall forms and the ends thereof project through the openings 12 of the wall forms and the openings 10 of the clamping devices. These ends of the tie rods are adapted to be engaged by wedges or key members 13 which are driven through transverse openings 14L in the heads of the clamping devices. These openings have a tapered formation so as to cooperate with the key members and intersect the tie rod receiving openings 10, so that the tie rods will be engaged when the wedges are driven into position. The fastening devices thus perform the double function of holding adjacent form units together and also of engaging the ends of tie rods for cooperation therewith to hold spaced forms the proper distance apart. It will also be noted that when the Wedge shaped key is driven into of which is provided with a tie rod receiving opening 10, avoids the necessity of using rights and lefts and renders all of the fas+ tening devices interchangeable with each other. The form of the invention shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing is susceptible of being used for forcibly pulling the tie rod out of position when this is desired. With the wedge 13 driven tightly into position to clamp the end of the tie rod 11 the handle 7 can be forcibly moved down wardly to pull the tie rod outwardly a short distance, whereupon the wedge 13 can be re leased until the lever is returnedto its original position. The wedge 13 can then be againtightened and the operation repeated. This can be repeated until the tie rod has been withdrawn.

A modification is shown by Figures 4:, 5 and 6. In these figures the arm 1 is pivotally mounted upon'the pin 5, and provided with a bifurcated head 6 to straddle and engage the abutting marginal flanges 3 of a pair of form units. The handle 7 projects rearwardly from the head 6 and provides a means for forcibly swinging the arm to move the bifurcated head into and out of operative position. Lateral ears 9 project from opposite sides of the head and are formed with openings 10- to receive the tie rods 11. 1 A wedge shaped key 13 is used to engage the tie rods and this key is driven through a transverse opening 14 which intersects the tierod receiving openings 10, but is arranged above the said openings instead of below the openings as in the previously described form of the invention. The operation of this form of the clamping device is exactly as previously described, and it serves both to secure adjacent form units together and also to engage a tie rodto hold the form units the proper distance from an opposed wall form.

A further modification is shown by Figures 7 and 8, in which the arm 4 is provided with a bifurcated head 6 and handle 7". The lateral ears 9* of the head are provided with notched seats 10 to receivethe ends of the tie rods 11. These notched seats open upwardly so that the locking device can be swung into or out of operative position without disturbing the tie rods 11. The head is formed at' an intermediate point with a keeper 15'to receive the wedge shaped key 13. When the key is driven into posican be caused to engage either one or both of the tie rods and clamp the same securely in position. The locking device is operated in the same manner as previously described, although it will be obvious. that when the key 13 is removed the locking device can be swung downwardly without disturbing the tie rods. When the locking key is driven into position and caused to engage the tie rod the locking device is prevented from being released and the tierod is firmly engaged so that the form will be held against bulging when the concrete is poured or placed in position.

A still further modification is shown by Figure 9 in which the pivot end of the arm 4 has a cam formation, as indicated at 16, and is arranged to engage the projecting end of the tie rod 11 when the locking device is swung into operative position. The opening in the wall form to receive the he rod is arranged so that the end of the tie rod will project under the pivot end of the locking device. When the locking device is swung into inoperative position the cam portion 16 clears the tie rod, while when the locking device is swung into operative position the cam device is brought into a forcible engagement with the tie rod and flexes the projecting end thereof laterally, thereby bringing it into a firm locking engagement 1 with the edges of the opening in the form.

The arm 4 terminates in a bifurcated head 6 and is provided with a handle 7, said handle providing a means for manipulating the lockin device, while the bifurcated head engages the marginal flanges of adjacent form units, as previously described.-

A further modification is shown by Figure 10, in which the outer sides of the arms of the bifurcated head 6 have a flared or wedge shaped formation, as indicated at 17. The tie rod receiving openings in the form units are arranged so that the ends of the tie rods 11 project into the path of the flared sides 17 of the locking head. The handle 7 provides a means for manipulating the locking device and when the locking device is swung into operative position the flared or wedge shaped sides 17 thereof forcibly engage the projecting ends of the tie rods 11 and flex the same laterally, thereby forcing the tie rods into a locking engagement with the edges of the openings in the form units. The locking device thus performs the dot:- ble function of engaging the marginal flanges 3 of adjacent form units to hold the form units together, and also of engaging the tie rods to prevent bulging of the form when the concrete is placed in position.

A further modification is shown by Figure 11, in which the bifurcated head 6 is formed with an enlarged portion 18, which is adapted to engage the end of the tie rod or wire-11 and bend the same laterally when the locking device is moved into operative position. The locking device is pivoted at 5 and provided with the usual handle 7. The tie rod receiving opening in the form is arranged so that when the locking device is swung into inoperative position the end of the tie rod will clear the enlargement 18 of the locking device. When the locking device is swung into operative position the bifurcated head thereof engages the marginal flanges of the abutting form units to hold the form units together and the enlargement 1S simultaneously engages the projecting end of the tie rod and bends the same laterally against the form, thereby providing a hooked end 11 which engages the form to prevent bulging or spreading thereof. The term tie rod as used throughout the specification is intended to cover either a stiff rod, a stiff or flexible wire, or any kind of tie member which may be used to connect the opposing portions of a wall form to preventbulging or spreading thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. The combination with form units and a tie rod, of a fastening member for securing the form units together, said fastening member being provided with a seat to receive the tie rod, and means for clamping the tie rod in position upon the seat.

2. The combination with form units and a tie rod, of a fastening member mounted upon the form units and provided with means for securing the form units together, said fastening device being movable into and out of operative position, and being provided with a seat adapted to receive the tie rod when the fastening device is in operative position, and means for clamping the tie rod in position upon the seat.

The combination with form units and a tie rod, of a fastening device provided with means for securing the form units together and also provided with a seat to receive the tie rod, and wedge means for releasably clamping the tie rod upon the seat.

4. The combination with form units and a tie rod, said form units being provided with marginal flanges, a fastening member movably mounted upon the form units and having a bifurcated head to engage the flanges to secure the form units together, and means upon the'fastening member for releasably engaging the tie rod.

5. The combination with form units and a tie rod, said form units being provided with marginal flanges, of a fastening member movably mounted upon the form units and formed with a bifurcated head adapted to engage the flanges of the form units to hold the units together, said fastening de vice being also formed with a seat to receive the tie rod, and wedge means for clamping the tie rod in position upon the seat.

6. The combination with form units and a tie rod, said form units having marginal flanges, of a fastening member pivotally mounted upon one of the form units and having a bifurcated head to engage the marginal flanges of the form units to hold the units together, said fastening member being provided with an opening to receive the tie rod and also with a key-way intersecting the said opening, and a key adapted to be driven into the key-way to clamp the tie rod in position. 7 i

7. The combination with form units and a tie rod, said form units being provided with marginalfianges and having tie rod receiving openings therein, of a fastening member pivotally mounted upon one of the units and having a bifurcated head adapted to engage the marginal flanges of the units to hold the units together, said head having a lateral ear with a tie rod receiving opening therein which is brought into registry with the tie rod receiving opening of the form unit when the fasteningv member is in operative position, and means for clamping position within the said receiving-openings therein, of an arm piv-.

otally mounted upon one of the form units and provided with a bifurcated head adapted to engage the flanges ofthe form units to hold the units together, said headbeing formed with lateral'ears having tie rod receiving openings therein which are brought into registry with the openings of the form units when the bifurcated head is in opera tive position, and a wedge member adapted to be driven into the head for engaging the tie rods to clamp the latter in position within the tie rod openings.

9. The combination with form units and a tie rod, of a fastening member mounted upon one of the form units and provided with means for holding the units together, said fastening device being movable into and out of operative position, and means upon the fastening device for engaging the tie rod, the fastening device being locked in operative position and prevented from being moved intoino-perative position when the tie rod is engaged thereby.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HERAULT A. TRESTER. 

